Toy mine.



H. BECK.

TOY MINE.

APPLIQATION FILED ,MAR. I6. 1918.

WINE":

Patented Nov. 5,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I- H. BECK.

TOY MINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I6. 1918 Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

3 SHEETSS HEET 2.

H. BECK.

TOY MINE.

APPLICATION FILED, MAR. Is. 1918.

1,283,63 1 Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

3 SHEETSSHEEI a.

UNITED s'rn'rns PATENT ornion.

HEINRICH BECK, OF SGHENECTADY, NEW vYORK.

droY MINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1918.

Application filed March 16, 1918. Serial No. 222,933.

a small body of water such as a tank when automatically tripped by a boat or similar means, thereby displaying an effect similar to that produced by the explosion of a mine or torpedo in time of war.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a toy mine to be submerged and arranged with automatic tripping means whereby compressed air is released for violently dispersing quantities of the adjacently positioned water and throwing the water about to a considerable extent, such tripping means being preferably arranged for automatic actuation upon being only slightly contacted by such a device as a toy boat.

A still further object of the device is the provision of a tripping means adapted for the automatic release of compressed .air arranged in such a submerged manner as to present the appearance of an exploding mine at the surface of the water. The principles involved in the invention may be carried out in various manners such as those herein illustrated and each of which employs the essential features of releasing compressed air beneath the water, producing an upward rush of air for violently disturbing the water at the surface thereof and providing a pleasing and instructivetoy employed with a small tank provided for the purpose or an aquarium and the like, a toy boat being also serviceable in connection therewith if desired. a

In the d'awings forming a part of this application and in which like numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views;

Figure 1 is a central sectional view of one form of the device;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a portion of similar form thereof with a different closing arrangement; v i

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a portion of the device operated in a similar manner with a still different form of closure;

differently arranged Fig. i is an elevational view of a different form of the device in its operative arrange ment;

Figs. 5 and 6 are elevational views of portions. of similar forms of the device with automatic tripping means;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a slightly different form of construction;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a bowl-shaped mine operating in a similarmanner; Fig. 9 1s a detail vie-wfof an automatic tripping means for the structure of device shown in Fig. 8 similar to the tripping means employed in the structure shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings; 1 V

Fig. 10 is a different form of the device employing an air-compressing piston; V Fig. 11 illustrates a tank with a modified form of the device carried thereby and illustrating the manner of operation by means of a toy ship; V

Fig. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view taken through a torpedo furnished with an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 1 3 is a central vertical sectional view of'a mine slm lar to that shown 1n Flg. 1 arran ed with manual releasin means and t) l b with a contained air pump or compressor;

Fig. lat is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view of a slightly different form.

of torpedo frointhat shown in Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a top plan view of an end por-' tion thereof; and

Fig. 16 is an end elevation of the same. Referring more in detail to the drawings, the general rinciples of the invention will be described in connection with the embodiment thereof illustrated by. Fig. 1 and in which a mine 10 is employed in the .form of a hollow globeor sphere adapted to be filled with compressed air by means of a valve inlet nipplenll. Suitable weights 12 are attached to the mine by means of chains 13 for maintaining the mine submerged beneath the surface of the water 14. Gas or chemicals may be employed with or instead of air if desired.

. A lid 15 is arranged for closing the outlet neck 16 of the mine preferably having a suitable packing 17 while a lever 18 pivoted to a lug 19 upon the mine is adapted I to maintain the lid 15 closed by means of a latch 20 engaging a hook 21 upon the neck 16. The leverlS contacts a resiliently mounted block 22 carried by the lid 15 and the manner of retaining the lid closed will be evident from Fig. l of the drawings. An arm portion of the latch is provided with a slot 2% through which an upright post extends which is carried by the lug 19. A spherical weight 26 having a conical bore 27 is slidably mounted upon the post having a substantially U-shaped wire 28 at the top thereof adapted for balancing upon the tapered upper end 29 of the post A float 30 is mounted upon the wire 28 being in the form of a disk and normally arranged slightly beneath the surface of the water 14:. It will be understood that during the travel of a miniature ship such as 31 as illustrated in Fig. 11 of the drawings, the ship may come in contact with the float 30, thereby pushing the wire 28 off of the end of the post 25, permitting the weight to fall downwardly, contacting the latch-arm 23 and releasing the latch from the hook 21. The lid 15 being thereby released, the compressed air within the mine 10 will forcibly open the mine and the air will escape through the neck 16 passing violently upwardly through the water l t and forcing quantities of the water to a considerable distance into the air. The entire elfect will be similar to that produced by a mine at sea when viewed from a distance.

In Fig. 2 of the drawings, a hollow spher-- ical mine 10 is arranged having an air inlet nipple l1" and anchoring chains 13. A closure cap is arranged within the' mine, being forced in closed relation against the inner edge of the outlet neck or flange 33 thereof by the air pressure within the mine. A post at is arranged upon the cap 32 having a spherical weight 35 slidably mounted thereon by means of a conical bore 36 arranged through the weight while a U-shaped wire 37 is adapted to seat upon the upper tapered end 38 of the post 34. A pressure-regulating valve 39 is arranged for the mine 10 and it will be understood that when the weight 35 is contacted from any lateral direction, the wire 37 will be forced off of the post end 38, permitting the weight to fall upon a cross-piece 39 of the said post, resulting in a lowering of the post 3 and the cap 32 for permitting the compressed air to escape from the mine 10 through the neck 33 thereof.

A similar arrangement is set forth in Fig. 3 of the drawings in connection with the spherical hollow mine 10, and in this form of the invention an upright post 3a is secured to the mine by means of a curved arm 40. A spherical weight 35 is arranged with a conical bore 36 and with a curved wire 3'? for mounting upon the tapered upper end 38 of the post 34. l/Vhen the weight 35 is moved and the wire 37 shifted off of the top of the post, the said weight falls, sliding downwardly upon the post 34: until it contacts the upper end of a sleeve 41 having a cap 3; at its lower end held in closed arrangement against the outlet neck 33 of the mine by means of the compressed air prcssure ithin the mine. A spring l2 is arranged for connecting the post 3%, with the cap 32. It will be seen from this detailcu description of Figs. 1 2, and 3 that the automatic weight tripping device embodies the same principles in each of said slightly difierent structures while the submerged position of the mines and the upward throwing of quantities of water when the same are operated is the same in connection with the structures shown in Figs. 2 and 3 as that heretofore described in connection with Fig. 1 of the drawings.

I11 Figs. l, 5 and 6 of the drawings, a hollow spherical mine 43 is arranged having hemispherical sections 44 hinged together as at 45 while a weight 46 being attached to the mine by means of a chain 47 maintains the mine submerged beneath the surface of the water 48. A lug 49 upon one section of the mine 43 is provided in Fig. l with a swinging latch 50 adapted to engage over an annular flange 51 of the opposite hemispherical section thereof while a post 52 is carried by the latch 50 having a ball 53 at its upper end positioned slightly beneath the surface of the water as. Air at atmospheric pressure is provided in the mine as and when an object passing through the water 4:8 in the direction indicated by the arrow strikes the ball 53, the latch is released permitting the air to escape from the mine 3 and ascend through the water.

The mine 43 illustrated in Fig. 5 is of identical construction having a latch 5e pivoted to a lug carried by the mine for retaining the same closed while a post- 56 is mounted by means of a ball and socket joint 57 upon a projecting arm 53 of the lug and has an inverted disk-shaped foot 59 seated upon the top of an end extension 60 of the latch 5%. A ball (31 is provided on the top of the post 56 and when an object strikes the said ball and laterally shifts the post 56, it will be seen that the lever end 60 will be depressed, thereby releasing the latch 54 from the flange 62 which it engages a ad the air within the mine will be released.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings the mine i3 is arranged with the form of latch ust described pivoted to a lug 63 of the mine while a post 64 is pivoted as at 65 to the lever end 60 of the latch 54 and is normally positioned upright with a ball 66 which is arranged at its upper end positioned slightly beneath the surface of. the water. lvhen the ball 66 is engaged by an object moving in the direction indicated by the arrov in ball shaped mine'77 may be arranged as shown .89 of the rod 87.

66, the post 64 will be caused to fall later ally by moving upon its hinge 65 and bringan outlet neck 71 arranged at the top of the mine adapted to be closed by a lid '72 having an opening spring 73 and a latch post 7 1 adapted to maintain the lid closed when desired. It will be understood that when the lid 72 is arranged in its closed position, the mine may be readily submerged, thereby confining air within the mine while weights .75 are connected to'th'e mine by means of chains 76 for maintaining the mine beneath the surface of the water. When the latch Ta is contacted for releasing the same from the lid 72, the spring 7 3 opens the lid and permits the contained a1r to escape.

In a similar manner, an inverted bowlin Fig. 8 of the drawings having a post 7 8 axially secured therethrough. The mine 77 may be readily forced in a vertical-direction downwardly into the water for trapping a suitable quantity of air therein and normally maintained in position by means of cords 7 9 attached to a disk 80 at'the lower end of the rod 78 at a point within the mine and 'a weight 81 positioned upon the bottom of the water container 82 of the container within which the water 83 is arranged for submerging the device.' A head 81- is arranged at the upper free end of the post 7 8 while aslider 85 may. be positioned. at a suitable adjustment upon the post 78 for normally maintaining the mine 77 in its operatlve POSltlOlL' It will be seen that when thehead 84: is contacted from any side thereof that the balance or equilibrium of the mine 77 will be disturbed, thereby permitting some of the air contained therein to escape,it being obvious that if the mine 77 is inverted that all of the contained air will spherical weight. 86 is slidably arranged upon rod 87 formed in a double curve, a

wire88 being provided for the said weight adapted to seat upon the tapered upperend It will be seen that when the weight 86 is unseated from its position upon the rod 87 that the weight will slide downwardly upon the rod until reaching the lower curved portion 90 of the rod 87 and exerting .a blow at that point, the said weightbemg sufficient to overturn the mine 7'7 permitting they air therein to escape upwardly through the water 83.

The form of the invention shown in Fig. 10 of the drawings comprises atubular' ca's ing 91 with a tightly fitting piston 92 slidably arranged therein and having a rod 93 carried thereby. A spring 9% encircles the rod 93 adapted to be compressed when the piston 92 is forced in close proximity, to the lower end 95 of the cylinder 91, a latch 96 being carried by the bottom of the cylinder for engaging a notch 97 in the rod 93 when the spring 91-is socompressed. A hinged lid 98 is arranged for closing the outlet neck 99 at the top of the cylinder 91 while a hook 100 is swingingly carried by the lid 98 for swinging into engaging position witha lug 101 when the lid is closed. The mine 91 is adapted to be anchored beneath the surface of the water by means of chains 102 in the manner heretofore described, and it will be evident that when the latch 96 is retracted for releasing the rod 93, the spring 91 will move the piston 92 upwardly and compress the air within the cylinder 91. hen a finger 103 carried by the inner face of the piston 92 engages the projecting end 101 of the hook 100, the said hook will be re 105 extending to any convenient point to be pulled for operating the mine 91 somewhat after the manner of a mine that is operated at a distance, although the automatic release of the latch 96 may be readily accomplished by the tripping devices heretofore described in connection with the other-forms of my invention herein fully set forth.

It being understood that the device being designed as a: toy may be submerged in any small body of water desired such as a tub or tank, the aforementioned ship 31 is shown in Fig. 11 floating upon the water 106 within a tank-107, a further modified form of mine 108 being shown'secured tothe bottom 109 of the tank and of a flattened form with an outlet portion 110 projecting into the water 106. Compressed air being provided in the mine 108 through the inlet valve 111 thereof,,a releaslng means in the form of a-post 112 is provided having a ball 113 upon its upper end herein illustrated about to be be violently agitated or upset.

In embodying the principles of my invention in a torpedo as illustrated in Fig. 12 of the drawings, an elongated hollow casing 113 is arranged having a rudder 11 1 at one end thereof while a supply of water 115 is admitted into the casing through a water inlet pipe 116 and compressed air is also provided within the casing being admitted through the nipple 117. A cap 118 normally closes the outlet end 119 of the torpedo being retained by means of a hinged lever 120 having a swinging latch 121 engaging over a hook 122 of: the torpedo. An end extension 123 provided upon the latch 121 may hitan object during the tor-wart travel of the torpedo through the water, thereby releasing the latch 121 and permitting the compressed air within a torpedo to escape and pass upwardly into the water in which the torpedo is submerged.

A propelling means is provided for the torpedo comprising a pipe 12%; extending through the side of the torpedo and arranged at a point beneath the water 115 within the torpedo. A controlling valve is provided in the outwardly projecting portion of the pipe 121, it being understood that upon opening the valve 125, and placing the torpedo beneath the surface oi any body of water, the air within the torpedo will force the water 115 upwardly through the pipe 124: and this rearward movement of the expelled water will force the torpedo forwardly in a direct line of travel. A torpedo is arranged which is self-propelled and adapted for automatic operation when the same cont acts any object during its travel through the water, such as the side or the tank or receptacle within which the torpedo is sub merged.

From this detailed description or the different embodiments of the invention, it will be apparent that a toy is arranged adapted to give a pleasing demonstration representing the explosion of a mine in miniature and while other embodiments of the invention may be arran ed, the broad principle contained therein'and hereinafter claimed consists of the trapping of air in a submerged manner for ready release at a desirable instant.

Any of the forms 01 the invention herein shown such as the mine in Fig. 1 and the torpedo in Fig. 12 may be arranged with a contained air-pump formed with the fluidcontaining casing and whereby the device may be readily filled with compressed air instead of supplying air thereto through the inlet nipple as shown. In Fig. 13 the spherical mine 130 is arranged with an air pump 131 positioned within the same operable in the usual manner by the pump rod 132 for providing compressed air within the mine, it being understood that anchoring chains 133 are arranged for maintaining the mine beneath the surface of the water. An outlet cap 13% is arranged with a lever 135 for retaining the same closed while a latch 136 normally maintains the lever in engagement with the cap. in this form of mine as well as the other forms of mine and torpedo herein illustrated, any form of manuallycontrolled releasing or tripping means may be employed for opening the mine permitting the escape of the compressed air and such a means is illustrated in Fig. 13 consisting of the push-wire 137 arranged through tubular member 138, similar in arrangement to the operating means employed with camera shutters. It will also be apparent that a pneumatic release may likewise be utilized or an electric release if founc desirable.

A torpedo 139 is illustrated in Fig. 14 of the drawings having a contained air pump lelO provided with a plunger rod lll having a handle 142 at the rear end of the torpedo and whereby as will be evident, compressed air may be readily supplied within the said torpedo body. Inclined fins 143 are preferably carried at opposite sides of the torpedo 139 adjacent the forward outlet end 1 14 thereof, the said fins being set at an inclination for directing the downward travel or diving of the torpedo during the forward 'movement thereof.

A closure-cap 145 is provided for the outlet 14 1 having a suitable packing 1 16 while a yoke 147 is carried by the outlet or neck 1 1 1 with a lever 1418 centrally pivoted thereon having fingers 14:9 engaging the outer face of the cap 1415 when the device is set with the cap in its closed arrangement and wit 1 the lever 148 vertically positioned. It will be understood that when the torpedo is moving through the water filled with compressed air and the lever 148 comes in contact with any object, the said lever will be released permitting the air within the torpedo to unseat the cap 1 15 and release the compressed air which will rise to the surface of the water violently agitating the same. It will be understood that any form of propulsion desired may be provided for the torpedo such as that shown in Fig. 12 of the drawings or the torpedo may be manually drawn through the water or thrown into the water so that the same will dive and then come to the surface.

It will be understood that the various forms of my invention are susceptible to slight changes without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed, the form of the weight for instance shown in 1. 2 and 3 being non-essential as the same may be of any form so long as the bore or opening therethrough is sufiicient to permit the weight to slide downwardly upon the post when tripped or unseated from the upper end of the post for automatically releasing the inclosed fluid. In connection with the diving of the torpedo where the same is propelled by water pressure as shown in 12 of the drawings, the fins adapted for positioning beneath the surface of the water, an outlet for the air, and controlling means for the outlet.

'2. A device of the class described comprising a submerged air container and releasing means for the air adapted for normal positioning beneath the surface of the water when the device is in use whereby the liberated air is adapted for agitating the water .upon its upward travel therethrough.

3. A device of the class described comprising an air container adapted for arrangement beneath the surface of the water, and releasing means for the air adapted for actuation in the event of acontact between a portion of the device and another element.

i. A device of the class described com prising a submerged air container, air retaining means for the container, and automatic releasing means for the retainer adaptedfor actuation by contact with another body. v

5. A toy mine comprising an air container, air releasing means for the container, and controlling means for the releasing means adapted for operation by engagement of another element.

6. A device of the class described comprising a normally submerged air container, outlet means for the container, and an automatic release for the outlet means adapted for permitting the air to escape from the container and agitating the water during its passing therethrough upon the operation of the device.

7. A mine comprising a submerged air container, a closure retainer for the vcontainer, and automatic releasing means for the retainer adapted for releasing the air from the container beneath the surface of the water upon the operation of the device.

8. A mine comprising a submerged container for compressed air, a closure for the container, a retaining latch for the closure, and automatic releasing means for the said latch.

9. In combination witha submergible air container, a rod member carried thereby, a

weight having a bore slidably mounted upon the rod, and a U-shaped wire carried by the weight with .its free end seated upon the tapered upper end of the rod when the device is set and further adapted for the auto- Copies of this patent may be obtained: for five cents each, by addressing Washington, D. G.

matic release of the air from said container when said weight is unseated from its position upon the rod.

10. A mine comprising a submergible air container, an air outlet for the container,

'a normally upright. rod associated therewith, a releasing weight for the said outlet adapted for releasing dropping movement upon the rod, and a wire carried by the weight normally seated upon the upper free end of the rod when the device is set with the weight in its upper position.

11. In combination with a submergible air container, anchoring means adapted for normally maintaining the same beneath the surface of the water, aclosure cap for the container, a retaining latch for the cap, a post arranged adjacent the said latch having a tapered upperend, an operating weight for the latch having a conical bore therethrough slidably mounted upon the post, and a curved wire upon the weight normally seated upon said upper end of the post when the device is in its set arrangement. I

12. A mine comprising a submergible air container having an outlet, a valve for an outlet, a post associated with the valve having post adapted for positioning adjacent the 7 surface of the water when the device is set up for use with the post in its upright position.

14. A mine comprising an air container, means adapted for maintaining the container submerged with air contained therein, and means carried by the container adapted for the automatic liberation of the air upon contacting with another body adjacent the surface of the water.

15. A toy mine comprising an air con tainer, outletting means therefor, a post,

and a weight adapted for balancing upon' the top of the post when the device is set,

the downward 'rnovement of the weight when tripped being adapted for actuating the outletting means. I

In testimony whereof I'afiix my signature.

HEINRICH BECK;

the Commissioner of Patents, 

